Kanye West has won 12 Grammy awards, a bucketload of other music awards, been crowned as MTV’s Hottest MC, and got 2 GQ awards for Man of the Year and International Man of the Year. 

Kanye West

Two years ago this month, his mother’s death gave Yeezy a devastating blow, but he’s still been plowing ahead at a blistering pace, traveling for concerts, selling Kanye West tickets, collaborating with other artistes and even starting a new travel company. 

What Kanye West clearly needs at this point is some R&R. So he says he’s going to take a 1-month break at a retreat in India.

Now there’s no denying the therapeutic powers of an Ashram and a wise old Guru with a long beard, but there’s always the possibility that we might end up with two bearded Gurus belting out rap.

Besides, there are a number of similar retreats in California, where they take a distinctly Americanized but still holistic approach to rejunevating both mind and body.

Here’s a few suggestions for a 1-month retreat a bit closer to home,  so that Kanye West’s fans don’t feel left out of his life. Read More »

Are you looking for ideas for your next vacation?  Want to go somewhere, but can’t decide exactly where?

Perhaps you should check out one of the Top 10 US Cities to Visit.  Of course, whether or not a city is the best is a subjective opinion – but Conde Nast Traveler has taken a poll of its readers collective subjective opinions and come up with 10 American Cities that you’re most likely to enjoy visiting.  With cities from across the country highlighted, there should be a great vacation destination for everyone.

Top 10 Best Places To Visit In The Us

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge - Best US City to Visit

1.  San Francisco, California

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of San Francisco, California is The Golden Gate Bridge.  Residents rave about the culture and the year round mild weather that’s never too hot or too cold.  Visitors to San Francisco can stay in some of the country’s most eco-friendly hotels and enjoy organic dining.  UpTake’s own Cat Lincoln shares insider information on San Francisco via podcast.

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It might be kind of obvious, why a person would love to travel. But I recently had a conversation with an acquaintance who said that he absolutely HATED to travel. The thought was so bizarre to me, and I automatically defended my own love of journeying to new places – seeing new landscapes and experiencing new cultures. He reminded me that practically ALL of the travel he does is business-related, whereas I have only taken a couple of business trips (and had a grand time, actually – though I could see how one could become sick of travel, being constantly on the road).

I thought I would try to articulate some of my reasons for loving to travel – other than the obvious, “Duh! I’m on vacation!”

1 – It puts my husband in a really great mood.   Almost all of my travel is with my husband, and it puts him in “vacation-husband” mode, which to me is one of the best sides of him. All the cares of day-to-day life just fall away. He’s affectionate, and relaxed, and in a great mood all of the time. Which isn’t to say that he isn’t those things, at home, but… well, you know, it’s different. Surely I’m not the only wife whose husband transforms while on vacation.

2 – It puts ME in a really great mood.  Cheery husband notwithstanding, I turn into an incredible optimist while I’m travelling. I appreciate all the good things about my life – not the least of which is the ability to take a great vacation once a year. And I can put the not-so-good things in my life into better perspective. I temporarily cast all of my typical worries and anxieties away and say to myself, “I’ll let tomorrow take care of itself.”

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A shot of our truck from the side of the road in Grand Teton National Park.

ONE:  Hotel patrons who arrive, unwashed and disheveled and barefoot and sometimes even in their PAJAMAS (grown-ups AND children), to partake of the hotel’s breakfast.  You’re not at home.  Groom yourself, or at least put some clothes on.

TWO: Long stretches of highway that contain nary a rest stop.  We don’t want to have to pull of at some random exit, guess at which direction to turn, and drive for an unknown distance, in order to find a restaurant or gas station or handy gully in which to do the necessary.

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Well, we’re back. Ten days, 3026 miles, and 912 pictures later. I’d like to summarize my trip with some favorite pictures from each day and each stop along our route. Rest assured, you will all be regaled with details over the coming weeks!

7/30: A long-haul drive – Phoenix, AZ to Salt Lake City, UT. The picture is of the Painted Desert in northern Arizona, taken from the truck as we drove along.

7/31: Another long-haul drive – Salt Lake City, UT to Teton Village, WY; exploring Jackson Hole, WY. The first picture is of downtown Jackson Hole with a view of the Jackson Hole ski area. The second picture is of downtown Jackson Hole, by the entrance to the Town Square (one of the famous Elk Antler Arches can be seen to the left).

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The Old Faithful Inn, in Yellowstone National Park.

The Old Faithful Inn is everything that all of the documentaries, Travel Channel specials, magazines, and hundreds of publications say it is. It’s beautiful. Picturesque. Stunning. Historic.

It’s also a darned uncomfortable place to spend the night.

I must say that when my husband and I first set off on our Epic Road Trip, we didn’t expect our stay at the Old Faithful Inn to be the lowlight of our vacation. So here’s a perspective you probably won’t hear very often:

Four Reasons NOT To Stay at the Old Faithful Inn:
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Charleston, South Carolina

Although I live in Florida now, I was born and raised in the Midwest.  I never considered myself a “northerner” or a “yankee” or anything referencing Civil War history.

Until I spent a weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.

First let me say that Charleston is a beautiful place to visit.  I have a soft spot in my heart for old, beautiful architecture and Charleston is teeming with amazing buildings that date back to the earliest days of our country.

And the people of Charlestons are gentile and polite and oozing Southern Hospitality.  Even if they do make you eat southern food that you later regret.

But they are also Southerners.  And I was reminded of that fact over and over again during my weekend in Charleston.

Read More »

School

Officially, summer does not begin for a few more weeks.  June 21, I believe, is the Summer Solstice and it marks the official beginning.  Unofficially, summer begins in just a few days—when school lets out!  In about two weeks though, parents all over the country who have been looking forward to the academic reprieve that summer affords and the opportunity to renew quality bonds with their children will be wondering what the heck they were thinking!

Summertime can be draining on parents.

Fortunately, summertime also marks the beginning of concert season in Columbus and there is nothing better than a good show to recharge tired minds.  It’s a chance to let your hair down (if you still have any), soak up some local flavor and quite frankly, act like a kid again.  Away from the kids.  Call the sitter and make plans for a night out.  You owe yourself.

Concert Photo by AndiH

There are many local venues with excellent local and regional acts making their way through our fair city this summer.  The larger venues:  Value City Arena, Nationwide Arena, and Lifestyles Community Pavilion (The LC) have some great artists lined up.  Here’s a brief rundown.

Value City Arena

June 2009

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood

June 15

August 2009

American Idols Live! ‘09

August 25 at 7PM

August 26 at 7:30PM

Nationwide Arena

June 2009

Yanni Voices Tour

Sunday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Skate for Hope

Saturday, June 20 at 5 p.m.

July 2009

Billy Joel and Elton John Face 2 Face Tour

Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. – Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

August 2009

Cirque du Soleil presents Saltimbanco

August 12-23 (14 performances)

Keith Urban with special guest Jason Aldean

Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. – Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009

Wednesday, August 26 at 7 p.m. – Doors open at 6 p.m.

Lifestyles Community Pavilion

June 2009

July 30

August 2009

Lynyrd Skynyrd

August 18

Summer will be here before you know it so start planning now.  A good concert and a night on the town can make for the perfect local escape.

Concert Tickets Photo by planteschwa

(Photos courtesy creative commons by pixiesticks23, AndiH and planetschwa.)